Tire tread georeinforcing elements and systems

Abstract

The present disclosure provides embodiments directed to earth reinforcement. The present embodiments can be made from used tire threads or equivalent new material. Used tires are particularly advantageous as they are relatively inexpensive materials and results in the added collateral benefit of repurposing materials that would otherwise be destined for disposal in landfills. The embodiments are easily constructed, can be made from non-corrosive materials, and can be assembled at the site of deployment.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A tire tread connector for adjoining a first tire tread and second tire tread comprising: a first clamp piece having an outer surface and an inner serrated surface, the first clamp piece forming a first clamp piece bolt hole, a second clamp piece having an outer surface and an inner serrated surface, the second clamp piece forming a second clamp piece bolt hole and a clamp bolt, wherein an end the first tire tread is positioned adjacent but not in contact to an end of the second tire tread, the inner serrated surface of the first clamp piece is placed on a first side of the first tire tread and a first side of the second tire tread, the serrated inner surface of the second clamp piece is placed on a second side of the first tire tread and a second side of the second tire tread, and the clamp bolt is positioned through the first clamp piece bolt hole and the second clamp piece bolt hole holding the first tire tread and the second tire tread between the first clamp piece and the second clamp piece. 
     
     
         2 . A tire tread connector for adjoining a first tire tread and a second tire tread comprising: a spacer, a first load bar, a second load bar, a first load bar clamp, and a second load bar clamp, wherein a first end of the first load bar and a first end of the second load bar are affixed in a perpendicular orientation to the same side of the first load bar clamp where the first load bar and the second load bar are positioned along the first load bar clamp so that there is sufficient spacing for at least twice the combined thickness of the first tire tread and the second tire tread, a second end of the first load bar and a second end of the second load bar are affixed in a perpendicular orientation to the same side of the second load bar clamp, and wherein the first tire tread is positioned between the spacer and the first load bar, wrapped around the spacer, and positioned between the spacer and the second load bar with a first end of the first tire tread positioned beyond and approximately parallel to the second load bar, the second tire tread is positioned between first tire tread and the second load bar, wrapped around the spacer, and positioned between the first tire tread and the first load bar with the first end of the second tire tread positioned beyond and approximately parallel to the first load bar. 
     
     
         3 . A tire tread connector for adjoining a first tire tread and a second tire tread comprising: a first end piece, a second end piece, and at least three cross pieces, wherein a first end of each cross piece is affixed in a perpendicular orientation to the same side of the first end piece with each cross piece positioned apart on the first end piece so that there is adequate space between each cross piece for a tire tread, and a second end of each cross piece is affixed in a perpendicular orientation to the same side of the second end piece, wherein the first tire tread is positioned in a first direction longitudinal to the first and the second end pieces where the first tire tread is wound about at least two cross pieces in a serpentine orientation, and the second tire tread is positioned in a second direction opposite to the first direction longitudinal to the first and the second end pieces where the second tire tread is wound about at least two cross pieces in a serpentine orientation. 
     
     
         4 . A tire tread connector for adjoining a tire tread to a mechanically stabilized embankment facing panel comprising:
 a first end piece,   a second end piece,   an anchor cross piece having two tabs extending in opposite directions perpendicularly from the body of the anchor cross piece,   at least two cross pieces,   a first angle shaped tab and second angle shaped tab, wherein each angle shaped tab has a long axis portion, and a short axis portion where the short axis portion is shorter than the long axis portion and is perpendicular to the long axis portion,   
       wherein a first end of the body of the anchor cross piece is affixed in a perpendicular orientation at the first end to a first side of the first end piece so that the two tabs extend orthogonally above and below the plane formed by the body of the anchor cross piece and the first end piece, a first end of each cross piece is affixed in a perpendicular orientation to the first side of the first end piece where each cross piece is positioned relative to each adjacent cross piece so that there is sufficient space for the tire tread, a second end of the anchor cross piece and a second end of each cross piece are affixed in a perpendicular orientation to the same side of the second end piece, the first angle shaped tab is adjoined at the end of the long axis portion to the read side of the mechanically stabilized embankment facing panel with the short axis portion pointing downward, the second angle shaped tab is adjoined at the end of the long axis portion to the read side of the mechanically stabilized embankment facing panel below the first angle shaped tab with the short axis portion facing upward, the second angle shaped tab is positioned below the first angle shaped tab such that the tire tread and the body of the anchor piece can fit between the first angle shaped tab and the second angle shaped tread, the tire tread is positioned in a direction longitudinal to the first and the second end pieces where the tire tread is wound about at least two cross pieces in a serpentine orientation with a end of the tire tread positioned near one of the tabs extending perpendicularly from the body of the anchor cross piece, and the tabs extending from the anchor cross piece fit between the read side of the mechanically stabilized embankment facing panel and the short axis portion of the first shaped angle tab and short axis portion of the second shaped angle tab. 
     
     
         5 . A tire tread connector for adjoining a tire tread to a modular block retaining wall or a crib wall comprising:
 a first end piece,   a second end piece,   an anchor cross piece having one leg extending in a perpendicular direction from the body of the anchor cross piece, and   at least two cross pieces,   
       wherein a first end of the body of the anchor cross piece is affixed in a perpendicular orientation at the first end to a first side of the first end piece so that the leg extends orthogonally below the plane formed by the body of the anchor cross piece and the first end piece, a first end of each cross piece is affixed in a perpendicular orientation to the first side of the first end piece where each cross piece is positioned relative to each adjacent cross piece so there is sufficient space for the tire tread, a second end of the anchor cross piece and a second end of each cross piece are affixed in a perpendicular orientation to the same side of the second end piece, the tire tread is positioned in a direction longitudinal to the first and the second end pieces where the tire tread is wound about at least two cross pieces in a serpentine orientation with a end of the tire tread positioned near the leg of the anchor cross piece, and where the leg of the anchor cross piece abuts again the rear of a core hole of the modular block. 
     
     
         6 . A tire tread connector for adjoining a tire tread to a whole tire comprising:
 a first end piece,   a second end piece,   an anchor cross piece having a body portion and a leg having a long axis portion that extends in first perpendicular direction relative to the body of the anchor cross piece, and a short axis portion then extends in a second perpendicular direction relative to the first perpendicular direction so that the short axis is parallel with anchor cross piece,   at least two cross pieces,   
       wherein a first end of the body of the anchor cross piece is affixed in a perpendicular orientation at the first end to a first side of the first end piece so that the leg extends orthogonally below the plane formed by the body of the anchor cross piece and the first end piece, a first end of each cross piece is affixed in a perpendicular orientation to the first side of the first end piece where each cross piece is positioned relative to each adjacent cross piece so that there is sufficient space for the tire tread, a second end of the anchor cross piece and a second end of each cross piece are affixed in a perpendicular orientation to the same side of the second end piece, the tire tread is positioned in a direction longitudinal to the first and the second end pieces where the tire tread is wound about at least two cross pieces in a serpentine orientation with a end of the tire tread positioned near the leg of the anchor cross piece, and where the long axis portion of the leg abuts against the inside portion of the bead of the whole tire, and the short axis portion is adjacent to the interior surface of the whole tire. 
     
     
         7 . A tire tread connector for adjoining a first tire tread and a second tire tread comprising:
 a first end piece;   a second end piece; and   at least six cross pieces, wherein a first end of each cross piece is installed in a perpendicular orientation to the same side of the first end piece with each cross piece positioned apart on the first end piece so that there is adequate space between each cross piece for a tire tread, a second end of each cross piece is installed in a perpendicular orientation to the same side of the second end piece, wherein two adjacent cross pieces of the six cross pieces are positioned apart so that there is adequate space between the two cross pieces for two tire treads, and wherein the first tire tread is positioned in a first direction longitudinal to the first and the second end pieces where the first tire tread is wound about at least three cross pieces of the six cross pieces in a serpentine orientation, and the second tire tread is positioned in a second direction opposite to the first direction longitudinal to the first and the second end pieces where the second tire tread is wound about at least the remaining three cross pieces of the six cross pieces in a serpentine orientation.   
     
     
         8 . A system for providing georeinforcing elements, the system comprising:
 a plurality of tire treads;   a first connector having at least a portion of a first tire tread among the plurality of tire treads wound through the first connector in a serpentine fashion; and   a second connector configured to connect to a structure, wherein the first connector is connected to the second connector.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the structure is any one of a modular block, a crib wall, a mechanically stabilized embankment facing panel, or a tire. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first tire tread has a first end and a second end, the first end being would through the first connector, further comprising a third connector having the second end of the first tire tread wound through the second connector in the serpentine fashion. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a series of additional connectors for joining one or more tire treads among the plurality of tire treads in a chain connected to the third connector. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein a second tire tread among the plurality of tire treads is wound through the first connector in the serpentine fashion. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a series of additional connectors for joining one or more tire treads among the plurality of tire treads in a chain connected to the first connector. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first connector and the second connector are made of non-corrosive materials. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first connector, the second connector, and the plurality of tire treads are assembled at a deployment site where the georeinforcing elements are provided. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first connector and the second connector are assembled at a manufacturing facility, and wherein the plurality of tire treads are connected to the first connector and the second connector at a deployment site where the georeinforcing elements are provided. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of tire treads are obtained from used tires. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first connector, the second connector, and the plurality of tire treads are installed at a deployment site where the georeinforcing elements are provided, wherein the installation eliminates uses of anti-corrosive measures at the deployment site, and wherein the uses of anti-corrosive measures comprise uses of treated pH neutral backfill. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein when the first connector, the second connector, and the plurality of tire treads are first installed at a first deployment site and subsequently removed from the first deployment site, the first connector, the second connector, and the plurality of tire treads are recovered and reused in a second deployment site. 
     
     
         20 . A system for providing georeinforcing elements, the system comprising:
 a plurality of tire treads;   means for connecting at least two tire treads of the plurality of tire treads by way of applying tensile forces to the at least two tire treads and of causing friction between the at least two tire treads; and   means for connecting a tire tread of the at least two tire treads to a structure by way of applying friction to the tire tread.